Ferrule puller



Sept. 6, 196% c. A. ALBRIGHT FERRULE FULLER Filed April 15, 1957 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent FERRULE PULLER Chester A. Albright, 301 N. Harwood, Dallas, Tex. Filed Apr. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 652,988

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-259) This invention relates to ferrule pullers, and it concerns more particularly a tool for use in removing ferrules from bores provided therefor in base portions of articles of furniture and the like, such ferrules ordinarily being employed in conjunction with casters which are receivable in such bores.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple and eifective tool which is capable of removing a ferrule of the type described substantially intact from the article of furniture or the like with which it is associated, whereby the ferrule is preserved undamaged for reuse, while at the same time accomplishing removal of the ferrule without damage to the furniture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool for the purpose described which is of sturdy, rugged construction, which may be manufactured inexpensively, and

- which may be used indefinitely without need for repairs or replacement.

It is often necessary to remove ferrules of the type described from articles of furniture and the like, for the purpose of replacement or for other reasons, and no tool has heretofore been available for this purpose which is entirely satisfactory. 1

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section taken on a median line, of a ferrule puller embodying the invention, illustrating the manner in which the invention is used and showing the ferrule puller in one of its operating positions;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1, showing the ferrule puller in another of its operating positions;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale, partly broken away.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a base portion of an article of furniture, such as a chair, which is shown fragmentarily in inverted position. A ferrule 2 is inserted in a bore 3 provided therefor in the base 1 for engagement by a caster (not shown). The invention concerns a tool as hereinafter. described for use in removing the ferrule 2 from the bore 3.

The ferrule puller of the invention includes a supporting member 4 which is substantially U-shaped and has a top portion 5 and a pair of upstanding side portions 6 which are joined at their upper ends to the top portion 5. In use, the supporting member 4 straddles the ferrule 2, with the lower ends of the side portions 6 resting upon the base 1 on opposite sides of the ferrule 2.

The top portion 5 of the supporting member 4 has a central opening formed therein, through which a stud 7 2,951,282 Patented Sept. 6, 1960 is passed. The stud 7 is threaded continuously throughout its entire length, and has a threaded central bore 8 formed in its lower end for engagement by a stud 9. The stud 9 has a threaded upper end for engagement with the bore 8 of the stud 7, and a threaded lower end for engagement with the inner wall of the ferrule, and has a polygonally shaped enlargement 10 intermediate its ends for engagement by a wrench.

A first handle 11, which has a threaded opening formed therein for engagement by the stud 7, is secured to the upper end of the stud 7 by a lock nut 12. The arrangement is such that upon turning the handle 11 the stud 9 is screwed into the ferrule 2. A second handle 13, which likewise has a threaded opening formed therein for engagement by the stud 7, is positioned between the supporting member 4 and the first handle 11, and is capable of being rotated with respect to the stud 7 whereby the stud 7 is movable longitudinally with respect to the supporting member 4 to thereby lift the ferrule 2 out of engagement with the bore .3.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool for use in removing caster ferrules from bores provided therefor in base portions of articles of furniture, the combination of a bifurcated support having a top portion and a pair of upstanding side portions formed integrally with the top portion, the side portions being adapted to bear against the under side of a base portion, in inverted position thereof, on opposite sides of a ferrule received in a bore formed in the base portion, a first stud passed through a central opening provided therefor in the top portion, the first stud being threaded continuously throughout its length and having a threaded bore in its lower end, a second stud having a threaded upper end screwed in the threaded bore of the first stud, whereby the second stud is removably connected to the first stud and comprises a longitudinal extension thereof, the second stud having a threaded lower end adapted to be screwed into the ferrule, a first handle threaded on the upper end of the first stud, a lock nut threaded on the first stud and acting on the first handle whereby the first stud is rotatable with the first handle, to thereby screw the second stud into the ferrule, and a second handle threaded on the first stud and positioned above the support and below the first handle, the second handle being rotatable with respect to the first stud whereby the first stud is movable upwardly with respect to the support, to lift the ferrule out of the bore in the base portion, upon turning the second handle.

2. The structure of claim 1, the threaded lower end of the second stud comprising a tap capable of forming a female screw thread in a ferrule as it is advanced relative thereto.

3. The structure of claim 2, the second stud having a polygonal enlargement intermediate its ends for engagement by a Wrench.

References Cited in the file of this patent .UNITED STATES PATENTS 646,008 Neale May 27, 1900 1,157,577 Nickolai Oct. 19, 1915 1,428,815 Starkey Sept. 12, 1922 OTHER REFERENCES Solini: Aviation Magazine, v01. 43, August 1944, p. 182. 

